A New Set of Eyes

I've been back in America for two weeks now. Reverse culture shock is something else. I went from a nice house on a dirt road with a big courtyard and animals and cows walking by my bedroom window to a tiny studio one block off Lake Shore Drive and two blocks east of the Hancock Building and Michigan Ave. The first week was tough, but I adapt a little bit more each day. I'm seeing them in a different way now. Some examples:

Panhandlers. I used to feel sorry for them. I don't so much anymore, with the exception of disabled people (mentally or physically). In America, anyone that truly wants to work and earn an honest wage can do so. This is not so in other places. I've seen it with my own eyes, having traveled and lived in such places. I don't simply blame society anymore, as these people should be responsible for themselves. Actually, I blame the people who give them money, thus perpetuating the problem by enabling them to panhandle.

I know that this may be perceived as being a "conservative" opinion, but so be it. I guess that I expect more from my fellow Americans since completing my Peace Corps experience. If holding people accountable for their personal actions is a "conservative" disposition, well then you can just call me Barry Goldwater.

Patience. Americans have none. Zero. Zilch. Nada. Maybe we should heed the works of the great Axl Rose, "All we need is just a little patience (inhale) Patience...Ooh, oh, yeah". Last week, just walking the streets stressed me out to the point of longing for Codlea. I didn't think that it would happen so quickly! I made the mistake of slowing my approach to a crosswalk upon the appearance of the red flashing hand signal. I just figured I'd wait for the next green walking man. Oh no. I forgot that in Chicago we must speed up at such a moment. Time is of the essence. Everybody's in a hurry, but to go where and do what? Maybe nobody has enough time because there are too many choices? Too many things and activities to consume? I don't know. I guess I just feel like we don't truly learn, feel, and experience things if we don't stop to take the time to think and reflect on them. Why not stop and smell the roses instead of constantly thinking about what we "must" do next? It seems that America doesn't have time for this. This scares me a bit. Sometimes I worry about my country and where it is going.

Patience part 2. I was in Eddie Bauer the other day, buying a couple of pairs of pants, and this friendly, attractive young cashier became very stressed out by the fact that I had to wait for her to change the receipt paper roll in the cash register. I could feel the tension emanating from her. She apologized to me profusely, twice. I wasn't put off by having to wait. Sometimes the paper roll runs out. What are you gonna do but wait for it to be changed? I put her at ease by explaining that it wasn't a problem and I wasn't in a hurry. I told her that I knew that changing the paper roll can be difficult, as I had to do it when I worked retail once upon a time (Foot Locker). She smiled and let out a sigh of relief. I don't believe, however, that I did anything extraordinary. I just had patience, was friendly, and struck up a small conversation. It wasn't so hard. We exchanged smiles and said our goodbyes. I felt a bit sorry for her. Where does all of this pressure come from I wonder? It's all so complicated.